** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[spike]

Guardsman: : "Well I can tell you this much that you don't already know, your employer wants you dead and he's spies in Harby if that is where you think you can escape to. The moment you arrive it will be noted, and a mage there will cast a sending to the nearest force captain alerting them of your presence. The Dwarf and Elf we had follow you from the Boarshead, they were also given the same speech by Alzor Dam, but their instructions were very different. Keep an eye on you, shadow you, and report on your progress. They were supposed to kill our intended target, Ash but alas they became too drunk with the festivities from last night and fled with pockets full of imperial gold.

In case you fools haven't deduced House Telemvor has been in alliance with Dezloz for a decade. Your house is the most lowly and corrupt in all of Nyr, indeed their greed and perversity are well known. You come from a sad, pitiable lineage. Alzor permitted you both to live and be members of his household because you are dhampir, you fit well into their structure of evil, hah. Go ahead and kill me, but it will kill you and your brother there to let a certain secret go untold should anything happen to me. Something which you would be greatly upset not learning right now. Here's your golden chance'

Then, Karlene's mace flew and bludgeoned Bot Fly #1[/ into a bloody pulp, destroying it. It bathed the poor woman in its ichor as its innards poured all over her. She began vomiting over the railing. Karlene noticed a horrid wound on her back where the fly has injected its larvae into the woman.

[Nocturno]

"Can this go any faster? We have a tail."

Delilah will then draw her long sword.

Ini spf 5, Hit Thac0 16, Dmg 1d8: [1d10+5] = 8+5 = 13 [1d20] = 18 [1d8+5] = 1+5 = 6

[OoC: So many 1s on my damages!]

[Chris1234]

To Guardsman #1, "Well, qualifies as something I didn't know. But not as useful. Tell me something useful to me that I didn't know and I won't kill you. You have my word on that."
{OOC: This conversation would have been within a very short while of us getting on the boat.}

***
If there's still a botfly up and in range, Karlene tries to hit it.
Init [1d10+5] = 2+5 = 7, to hit [1d20] = 10, dam [1d6+4] = 1+4 = 5 versus THAC0 18

[spike]

Pilot: 'I'm giving her all she's got, Elf!' he cried out emphatically. He peered ahead with a spyglass, saying 'We have a fork ahead, we go either right or left, the right will cut our journey short by three hours, the left is longer and more treacherous but I assure you you'll loose your pursuers in that maze. Also your tail will think you went right as well should they think where you headed, if they know these waters at all'

[Chris1234]

"Left sounds the way to go, then," answers Karlane.

[Nocturno]

"Aye I agree."

[spike]

Guardsman:: "very well, the one who dispatched the assassin to snuff you out is your sister, though not of the same father. She is a sister of mercy, a fanatical group of self righteous whores who think themselves superior and saintly. She discovered recently that two of her mother's children were dhampirs, a blotch against her sense of saintly perfection. To avoid scandal she opted to have you both eliminated to purge any connection betwixt a lofty paladin of virtue and two blood sucking day walkers, hahaha...deliciously ironic is it not? Though of course, there is a inheritance involved. Her 'righteousness', hahahah. It's so rich I couldn't have made this shit up if I'd tried!'

The officer glared daggers at the guardsman 'silence you dumbshit, don't say another damned word! You're giving them far too much!'

Guardsman: 'you shut the hell up, I don't give a damn if they flay you, but I'm not going to do any dying today. There's too much arse and tits to fuck, and too much gold saved up not to spend. Maybe then I'll die! But not today'

The pilot commands all to move to the left and he moves the vessel left perfectly at the fork, when you go over another waterfall and crash into a snaking winding river artery which cut through some thick patches of wood, and soft beautiful countryside which seemed peaceful and tranquil.

The flies fled after Karlene brutally destroyed one with her mace, and the boat was going to fast to give chase for the buggers.

Two of the canoes filled with Hobgoblins give chase after you. The black guard apparently took the other passage.

Ash: 'they're gaining!'

Pilot: you (indicates Idrys) go down below into the cargo hold and fetch two barrels, get your sister to lower the crank to hoist them up. Be quick! '

Once done, he pulls out two wicks out of the barrels and lights them with a match, tossing them into the water. When the Hobs reach it, they're obliterated and pieces of the hobgoblins splinter in every direction. A Hobgoblin head crash lands onto the deck.

Pilot: 'Well guess it was fortunate I get so many Dwarven passengers, heh heh' he grinned to himself.

The rest of the voyage is clear and you can see the outline of Harby ahead.

The pilot says 'John, get your people into the cargo hold. There's some huge crates below full of Nyrian wine. For a bribe the garrison commander will let us through, no questions asked. His men will also carry all my cargo to their various destinations, usually to either the Copper Wrym Inn or the Vulgar Unicorn. If you don't mind much at all the discomfort for a little while it may be worth smuggling you in if you don't wish to be ratted out by some stupid sod looking out for ye. I aint one of you bloody devils but I have nuff wit to think o' something good time to time, earning my keep for the coin you paid in full. Nuff to keep my family fed for two months and then some!"

[Chris1234]

To Guardsman1, "Give me my sister's name and and if I believe you, assuming I don't know it already of course, and you're safe."

***
When the bots are dispatched, Karlane will examine anyone that's damaged.

[spike]

Guardsman #1: "So many rules, you made an agreement and I held up my end of the bargain. She's Karlene, and you're Idrys. You roughed me up and tortured this out of me. Feel free to kill these two, they're both a bunch of assholes"

Ash says 'worry not, woman' the cleric clasped the mothers head and healed her from the bot-flies insidious wound, and all of the larvae exited from the fat womans injury, and she instantly was revived. 'The Goddess smiles down on you, woman. Remember to thank her with your tithes' he said smiling at them. He came over toward the held prisoners, said 'we can always torture them if you think it best' he said to Idrys, 'It's what I used to do best anyway, might be fun to have another go' he snickered, 'Love can be a fickle bitch sometimes, and she most certainly does hurt like one!' he laughed at his own joke.

Ash walks up to Karlene and said 'I require healing...' he said with a seductive air to it, grinning at her mischieviously, 'my heart is rended by thine superior beauty, madam. Though words can do no justice to express said emotions'

[Chris1234]

Karlane turns to Guardsman 2, "Same deal, tell me something that I don't know that I find to be useful." She removes any gag he has.
{OOC: what the time between getting on the ship and spotting the other boats?}

***
"Hey Ash, you going to hog all the healing then?" challenges Karlene, completely deadpan. "We can talk about you 'getting healed' after a hot bath and a comfortable bed. Tell then, keep things where they should be, huh?" she delivers with a grin that belies the sternness of her tone.

[spike]

Ash: 'Lessening your load, madam!' he said, then held both hands to his heart, 'she rends the heart so watonly, her power raw and felt, somewhere in the wilderness an elven child wept, oh my heart o' hearts the pain, the ecstasy!' he said with a grin, 'I beat you to it for now, save your spells you'll need em ere long, I'm sure. If not for me then one of your boon companions'

Narn shook his head, 'you'll have to excuse him. I think I preferred it when he was a bloodthirsty murdering killer for the black cloaks' he said with a flippant smugness at Ash. Then he paused and got emotional, staring out into the water 'I can't believe they destroyed our home' he said at length. The pilot laid an empathetic hand on Narn's shoulder 'you're still intact, and that's something lad. I always said you'd leave here some day, I wasn't expecting this though' the pilot approached Idrys and Karlene and said 'what you both did back there...thanks, you saved my entire family. These bastards would have surely executed us for sport. I'm indebted to you, to you all. There's two crates below in the hold. Take either one of them. The first has a great deal of fanciful food: cheeses, wine, chocolates, fancy silks, clothes, and such. The other is full of arrows and metal for smiths work. Empty out a box and take what you will from the two or just have one of your own choice. It's as good as cash if you needn't any of these for your own purposes'

HARBY

Before you lies a large alluring hamlet bordering on becoming a full fledged town, of which Karlene has known to be a beloved secret getaway place even to this day for the queen. It has been home to many famous Nyrian writers, poets, and thieves, though some peasant heroes and knights had humble beginnings here. Having delivered many messages to and from this town on royal business you recollect it has intense quality of sundry goods, craftsmanship, and a decent smith. There are also very comfortable lodgings for far less prices you would expect in towns and cities. You know these folk here:

Goran a cartographer who sells expensive but up to date, accurate maps. He hires adventuring parties to thoroughly chart territories previously unmapped.

Dagger the only thief who operates in this remote place and hasn't been caught, hung, or imprisoned due to being a smooth talker (high charisma), also his rather impressive skill with throwing daggers. He was chased out of town for hanky panky in the past (seduction of bored, lonely housewives) but now simply sells his skills as a guide and fence.

In the distance you see an unarmored man, clad in the garb of a monk who is peering out intently in your directions with a spyglass. He seems to be studying you with intense scrutiny.

Narn "Hmmm, I wonder if an elf can shoot that bugger from here' he asked innocently.

[Chris1234]

Karlane turns to Guardsman 2, "Same deal, tell me something that I don't know that I find to be useful." She removes any gag he has.
{OOC: what was the time elapsed between getting on the ship and spotting the other boats?}

{OOC: I think this slipped through the cracks...}

If nothing significant, he gets one in the face, patted done for anything useful or valuable and then over the side with the body.

***
The officer gets the same routine unless anyone objects.

***
"Narn, yes, I will. And I'm so sorry about your home too," Karlene sympathizes with Narn, resting a hand gently on his shoulder.
After hearing the pilot's offer, she says, "Thank you. I think some cheese, wine and silks might be good. But what do the rest of you think?"

***
After disembarking, Karlene says, "So, where do you want to start to look for this friend of yours?"

[spike]

Between boarding and spotting other boats: 20 minutes.

Guardsman #2: "For the glory of the Imperium!' *BAM!* Karlene's mace impodes the mans face, and she pushes him over the side into the water, where he's devoured by giant Ghar.

The black guard officer still glaring hatefully at Guardsman #1 said 'I will tell you something worth setting me free, if you agree to toss this fool overboard. He's a dead man any way, put him out of his misery for me, call it a courtesy and an act of good will. You said you'd let him free you never said alive.

[Chris1234]

"Same deal. Something I don't know that I deem useful," Karlene says.

[TristenC]

[Ooc: is that creature attacking or just eating?]

Tell us and I'll kill him myself.